Mask harness



Feb. 19, 1963 w. D. MORTON, JR 3,077,880

MASK HARNESS Filed March 2. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO WILLIAM D.MORTON,

ATToRNm'rs Feb. 19, 1963 W. D. MORTON, JR

MASK HARNESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2. 1960 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM D. MORTON,

u/ML.

ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1963 w. D. MORTON, JR

' MASK HARNESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,077,889 MASK HARNEdS William D. Morton, .ha,Pasadena, (Iaiih, assignor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Mar. 2, 19st er. No.12, 282 3 tllaims. (Cl. 128141) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code(1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured andused by or for the United States Government for governmental purposeswithout payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to a harness for a face mask and, moreparticularly, to a way of supporting a face mask, such as an oxygen maskof the type worn by airplane pilots and crew members, away from the faceof the wearer until such time as its use is required.

It is quite often not necessary for an airplane pilot or crew member touse his oxygen mask at all times during a flight, although he mustcontinuously use the microphone and headphone ear pieces that arenormally attached to the same head harness as the oxygen mask. in maskand harness arrangements of the prior art, when the wearer removed hisoxygen mask it would either dangle from one side of the harness or wouldfall upon the chest of the wearer. This arrangement would not onlyinterfere with the use of other instruments, such as a secondarymicrophone, but would also require the use of two hands to replace themask on the face of the wearer. This is an obvious disadvantage becausethe modern aircraft of today require the complete attention of the pilotor crew member to his duties, and leave little time for searching for aloosely dangling oxygen mask and rte-adjusting it to the wearers facefor maximum comfort and efficiency.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aharness for oxygen masks which will support the mask away from the faceof the wearer when not in use and can be quickly and accuratelyregistered with the face of the wearer when its use is required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a harness foran oxygen mask which will hingedly support the mask away from the faceof the wearer when not in use and can be re-registered with the face ofthe wearer by swinging the mask into face-engaging posi tion with onehand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a resilientlybiased hinged attachment mounted on a harness for swingably supportingan oxygen mask therefrom.

it is a still further object of the present invention to provide ahinged attachment on a harness for an oxygen mask for adjustablypreregistcring the mask to the face of the wearer whereby the mask willbe supported away from the face of the wearer when not in use and willbe accurately reregistered with the face by swinging the mask with onehand.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen maskharness for pivotally supporting the mask in such manner that theangular relation established by the respective planes of the harness andthe mask when the mask is in face engaging position remains constantwhen the mask is swung away from the face.

According to the present invention an oxygen mask is attached to a headharness by a resiliently biased hinged attachment which is fixedlyattached at its one end to the oxygen mask and adjust-ably attached atits other end to the harness. When in use the mask is secured in a faceengaging position by a catch arrangement mounted on the mask and theharness. Initial adjustment of the "ice mask to the wearers face shouldbe made prior to using the mask and no further adjustments wouldordinarily have to be made during the course of its use. When the wearerno longer needs the mask, he releases the catch with one hand and swingsthe mask away from his face. The hinged attachment may be so adjusted tomaintain the open position of the mask with respect to the face, therebysupporting the mask in cantilever fashion from the harness at an angleof approximately 96 from the face engaging position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and it will be apparent that many changes may bemade in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methodsshown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention.Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction, arrangement of parts and methods which have been hereinset forth as illustrative only and not exhaustive, but only as expressedin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an oxygen mask and harnessaccording to the present invention with the mask in the face engagingposition.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the mask is in the openposition.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the hinged support memher for supportingthe mask on the harness.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in PEG. 3.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a mask harness indicated generally at 1,comprising an oxygen face mask 2 having a conduit 3 leading to an oxygensupply. The internal arrangement of the mask is not a part of thisinvention and is not illustrated as any of the standard oxygen masksnormally used by pilots, etc. may be used. Pixedly mounted on mask 2 isa hinged support member indicated generally at 4%, the details of whichwill be hereinafter described. Support member 44? is adjustably mountedon a plate 20 which is attached to a housing 13 on one earpiece 5.

Also mounted on the housing 13 is a secondary microphone 4 and anearphone 6. A plate 8 mounted on the back of housing 13 has attachedthereto a flexible band 9 which is adjustable to the conformation of thewearers head by means of adjusting buckle it A flexible head band 7 ismounted on housing 13 to support the harness on the top of the wearershead. Securing means for securing the mask to the wearers face isattached to the other earpiece 5 comprising a plate 16 to which isattached a hook 13 for locking engagement with catch 14 on strap 12, thestrap 12 being mounted on the forepart of mask 2. It will be obvious toone skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to theparticular securing means described for securing the mask to the wearersface, but rather, any of the commonly known catching or securing meansmay be substituted therefor.

Referring now to FEGS. 3 and 4, the hinged support member 4% is fixedlyattached, as by rivets 46, to mask 2 by a tab 44. A rigid plate 42 isfixedly attached to tab 44 by rivets 45, or any other commonly usedmeans of attachment. integral with plate 42 and at right angles theretois a. U-shaped bracket or clip 41 which meshes with an opposing U-shapedbracket or clip 28 and pivots with respect thereto about a verticalshaft 32, which engages brackets 41 and 28, res ectively, throughopenings 47 located distally of each of the brackets. A flared, annularmember 39 having a plurality of diametrically opposed notches '37located therein is fixedly mounted on the lower portion of U-shapedbracket 41. Shaft 32 extends axially through member 39 and has a lockingpin 3 38 fixedly attached thereto and adapted for locking engagementwith a pair of the notches 37. Shaft 32 is adapted for axial androtational movement through openings 47 and member 39, the axialmovement thereof being resisted by spring 31, which is mounted axiallyof shaft 32 between an integral, knurled knob 30 and the top of bracket41, in order to maintain the locking engagement of pin 38 in notches 37.The rotational movement of shaft 32 is resisted by a spring 34 which islocated axially of shaft 32 within the confines of the substantiallyrectangular structure defined by the meshing engagement of the brackets41 and 28, respectively.

As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the lower end of spring 34 is engaged inslot 35 in shaft 32, while the other end of spring 34 passes through anaperture 48 in U-shaped bracket 28 and is braced against plate 22, whichis per pendicular to and integral with bracket 28. Plate 22 contains apair of parallel slots 24 in juxtaposition with a pair of slots 21 inplate 20, which is fixedly mounted on housing 13 of earpiece 5.Adjustable securing means, such as a wing nut 26 in locking cooperationwith a washer 29 and locking nut 27, are positioned in each of saidslots 24 and slots 21 to adjustably secure plate 22 to plate 20, whichis fixedly mounted on housing 13 of earpiece 5.

In operation, the wearer may initially adjust the harness to theconfiguration of his head prior to using the oxygen mask by looseningthe wing nuts 26 and moving the plate 22 over plate 20 until a properfit of the mask to the face of the wearer is acquired, at which time thewing nuts 26 are tightened. The tension in spring 34 may also beadjusted by depressing shaft 32 in openings 47 against the resistance ofspring 31, thereby freeing pin 38 from notches 37 in member 39. Lockingpin 38 can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to either increase ordecrease, respectively, the tension in spring 34, thereby adjustably andresiliently biasing mask 2 away from the face of the wearer. When thedownward pressure upon shaft 32 is released, it will be biased upwardlyinto look ing engagement with another pair of notches 37 in member 39 bythe elastic action of spring 31, as previously described.

It will be understood that when the mask is pivoted in either directionthe mask 2, U-shaped bracket or clip 41, shaft 32 and spring 34 move asa unit. This is due to the fact that these members are interconnected inthe following manner: The mask 2 is fixedly connected to bracket 41 bythe tab 44 and plate 42, which is integrally connected to bracket 41;member 39 fixes shaft 32 with respect to bracket 41 due to the fact thatpin 38 engages notches 37 in member 39, which is fixedly attached tobracket 41; the lower end of spring 34 is engaged in slot 35 of shaft32, while the other end of spring 34 is braced against plate 22 tospring load the unit with respect to bracket 28.

When the respiratory mask 2 is not being used, it will be pivoted awayfrom the face and will be supported in cantilever fashion from theharness, as shown in FIG. 2. When the wearer needs the mask, he merelyswings the mask with one hand into the face engaging position shown in;FIG. 1 and secures it in this position by engaging catch 14 on hook 18.

It will be noted that the respective planes of the oxygen mask and theharness establish an angular relation when the mask is in the faceengaging position. When the mask is swung to the open position, thisangular relation remains unchanged, since the mask is pivoted about afixed point. This feature has the inherent advantage of always placingthe mask in the same position when not in use, thereby making itunnecessary for the user to search for the mask when he desires toreplace it on his face. This feature also permits the placing of otherinstruments on the harness, such as a secondary microphone, so that theswinging of the oxygen mask does not interfere with the position or theuse of such secondary instruments.

It will be readily apparent that the present invention is not limited toan oxygen mask in combination with a head harness, but may also beapplied to a helmet, or any other supporting means without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I. claim:

I. in a respiratory mask consisting of a face mask adapted for registrywith the face of the wearer, a head harness and means for attaching saidface mask to said head harness for holding said mask in position on theface of a wearer, said means comprising a first bracket and a secondbracket oppositely disposed for meshing engagement, a shaft engagingeach of said brackets for establishing a pivotal relation therebetween,an annular member fixedly mounted on the first of said brackets, theannular member having at least one pair of notches formed therein, onenotch of a pair located diametrically opposite the other not-ch of thepair, a transverse pin fixedly attached to said shaft and in lockingengagement with one of said notches, a spring mounted axially of saidshaft and having one end thereof mounted in a slot in said shaft and theother end thereof braced against the second bracket, and one of saidbrackets being fixedly attached to said face mask and the other of saidbrackets being adjustably attached to said head harness whereby saidface mask will be pivotally and resiliently biased away from the face ofthe wearer when not in use.

2. In an oxygen mask apparatus consisting of a face mask adapted forregistry with the face of the wearer, a head harness and means forsupporting said face mask from said head harness for position on theface of a wearer, said means comprising a pair of brackets disposed formeshing engagement, one of said brackets being fixedly attached to saidface mask and the other of said brackets being adjustably attached tosaid head harness,

' a shaft engaging each of said brackets for establishing a pivotalrelation therebetween, said shaft being adapted for axial and rotarymovement relative to said brackets, an annular member fixedly mounted onone of said brackets and having a plurality of diametrically opposednotches therein, a transverse pin fixedly mounted on said shaft and inlocking engagement with said notches, elastic means mounted on saidshaft for maintaining said locking engagement of said transverse pin insaid notches, a first plate fixedly mounted on said head harness andhaving a pair of slots therein, a second plate integrally connected tothe other of said brackets and having a pair of slots therein, meansextending through each of said slots connecting said second plate tosaid first plate, said slots of said second plate being juxtaposed withsaid slots of said first plate for adjusting said face mask relative tosaid head harness, and a spring mounted axially of said shaft and havingone end thereof engaged in a slot in said shaft and the other endthereof braced against said second plate for resiliently biasing saidface mask pivotally away from the face of the wearer to provide supporttherefor when the face mask is not in use.

3. In an oxygen mask apparatus consisting of a face mask adapted todefine a face engaging position and an open position away from the faceof the wearer, a head harness, catch means attached to said face maskand to said head harness for securing said face mask to said headharness in the face engaging position, and cantilever support means forsupporting said face mask from said head harness when the face mask isin the open position away from the face of the wearer, said cantileversupport means comprising a pair of U-shaped brackets oppositely disposedfor meshing engagement, one of said brackets being fixedly attached tosaid face mask, the other of said brackets having a member integrallyattached thereto, said member having a plurality of slots therein, aplate fixedly mounted on said head harness and having a plurality ofslots therein, said slots of said member being juxtaposed with saidslots of said plate for adjusting said face mask relative to said headharness, locking means engaging said slots of said member and said slotsof said plate for maintaining said adjustment, a shaft engaging each ofsaid brackets for establishing a hinged relation therebetween, saidshaft being adapted for axial movement relative to both of said bracketsand for rotary movement relative to one of said brackets, an annularmember fixedly attached to one of said brackets and having a pluralityof diametrically opposed notches therein, a transverse pin fixedlyattached to said shaft and in locking engagement With said notches ofsaid annular member. elastic means mounted on said shaft for maintainingthe locking engagement of said transverse pin With said notches, and aspring mounted axially of said shaft and having one end thereof engagedin a slot in said shaft and the other end thereof braced against themember integrally attached to the other of said brackets for pivotallyand resiliently biasing said face mask into the open position away fromthe face of the wearer when the face mask is not being used.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,272,537 Sample July 16, 1918 1,810,534 Rubin June16, 1931 2,814,293Gabb Nov. 26, 1957 2,882,896 Seeler Apr. 21, 1959 2,912,978 Seeler Nov.17, 1959

2. IN AN OXYGEN MASK APPARATUS CONSISTING OF A FACE MASK ADAPTED FORREGISTRY WITH THE FACE OF THE WEARER, A HEAD HARNESS AND MEANS FORSUPPORTING SAID FACE MASK FROM SAID HEAD HARNESS FOR POSITION ON THEFACE OF A WEARER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF BRACKETS DISPOSED FORMESHING ENGAGEMENT, ONE OF SAID BRACKETS BEING FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAIDFACE MASK AND THE OTHER OF SAID BRACKETS BEING ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED TOSAID HEAD HARNESS, A SHAFT ENGAGING EACH OF SAID BRACKETS FORESTABLISHING A PIVOTAL RELATION THEREBETWEEN, SAID SHAFT BEING ADAPTEDFOR AXIAL AND ROTARY MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKETS, AN ANNULARMEMBER FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID BRACKETS AND HAVING A PLURALITY OFDIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED NOTCHES THEREIN, A TRANSVERSE PIN FIXEDLY MOUNTEDON SAID SHAFT AND IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOTCHES, ELASTIC MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR MAINTAINING SAID LOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAIDTRANSVERSE PIN IN SAID NOTCHES, A FIRST PLATE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAIDHEAD HARNESS AND HAVING A PAIR OF SLOTS THEREIN, A SECOND PLATEINTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID BRACKETS AND HAVING A PAIR OFSLOTS